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FAQs

Are hemp and marijuana the same?Yes, and no. Are Chihuahuas and Great Danes the same? They are both dogs, but most people will not confuse them. Cannabis is the Latin genus name for plants that include hemp and marijuana. Just as there are tremendous differences between Chihuahuas and Great Danes, there are great differences between hemp and marijuana. These differences are due in part to the efforts of breeders emphasizing different traits that they desire in either the Cannabis plant (or the dog).

How is hemp different from marijuana?Hemp was bred from Cannabis to create tall, sturdy plants for rope and fiber, and for hearty seeds for feed and oil. Marijuana was bred from Cannabis for its production of cannabinoids (CBDS), the best known of which is THC,that causes the famous marijuana ‘high’.

Does hemp contain THC?Not really. Industrial hemp is grown for the production of oil, fiber and feed and contains almost no THC. By law, it must contain less than 0.3%. By comparison, the average level of THC of marijuana purchased in Colorado contains more than 18%–60 times more THC than industrial hemp!

Is hemp easy to grow?No! Like any crop, hemp requires not only farm equipment to plant the number of acres necessary to be sustainable, but hemp, like any crops, requires experience in the planning, planting, cultivation, production, pest management, harvesting and storage! Those with a background in agricultural production will find growing hemp easier than those with no background in farming.

How is hemp used?Hemp is grown for fiber and for seed.

How is hemp made into fiber?The fiber hemp plant is known for its tall stalk. At harvest, the hemp is cut down where it lies in the field to ret, which allows the stalk to begin breaking down. Both sides of a stalk must be exposed to the elements, so it needs to be turned in the fields.The stalk is composed of two parts, the bast and the hurd. During retting, the hurd begins to break down, softening the stalk.A machine called a decorticator strips the bast from the hurd. The bast part of the hemp plant is woven into fiber. The hurd is often used for insulation, animal bedding and the many other uses that do not require a long fiber length.

What are the seeds used for?Hemp seeds are highly nutritious, and an excellent source of fiber, minerals, protein and the essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic acid (also called omega 3 and omega 6). These fatty acids are referred to as essential fatty acids, meaning that they are necessary for human health but our bodies cannot produce them, so we need to acquire them through food